Controlling mechanism



Oct. 10, 1950 ROCKWELL 2,525,427

CONTROLLING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 2, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. A. ROCKWELL CONTROLLING MECHANISM Oct. 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 2, 1943 Sho W24 Patented Oct. 10, 1950 Edward Al Rockwell, Shaker Heights, Ohio Original application October 2, 1943, Serial No.

Divided and this application June 5,

1946, Serial No. 674,510. In Canada December 9 Claims.

My invention relates particularly to a controlline mechanism involving the control .of pumps by fluid pressures, and which may be used for any desired purpose but which is applicable, for example, in connection with automobiles, airplanes, .railway cars, mine locomotives, etc.

The object of my invention is to provide a controlling mechanism of the above character, which is arranged tocontrol the actuation of motor means for the operation of pumps so as to effectively insure the intended operation thereof. Another object, is to prevent the operation of the'motor means when an extreme position of movement of a. movableelement has been attained beyond thenormal path of movement.

thereof in the control of the same by the operation of the said pump. Further objects of my invention will appear from the detailed description of the same hereinafter.

This application is a division of my application upon Accumulating Apparatus, Ser. No. 504,807, filed October 2, 1943, now Patent No. 2,304,095, issued July 16, 1946,, which application is a division of my Patent .No. 2,331,800, granted September 10, 19513,.upon System for Controlling theApplication of Power. While my invention .iscapable .of embodiment in many, different forms, forthe purpose of illustration I have shown only one form thereof in the accompanying drawings in which-.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of the accumulator shown as being associated with a supply reservoir, as well as with an intermittently acting electrically driven pump for charging the accumulator; V

Figs, 2 and .3 together constitute a vertical section of .the accumulator shown therein;

{Fig.7 4 is an end elevation of the same; and

.Figr'5. is a vertical sectionthereof taken on line'5.-'5.ofFig.2.

In accordancewith my invention I have provided therein a reservoir gravity-feed tank having a filler opening .2, an inlet .3 for there- ,turned discharged liquid, which may be a hydraulic brake fluid or. any other suitable. liquid, and aremovable cylindrical screen filter 4 located over an outlet or ,supply opening 5which leads by a pipe 6, having a branch inlet .pipe 611' for returned discharged liquid, to a rotary pump 1 which may, for example, be any desired type of gear pump. This is driven by an electric motor 8. Pressure liquid is thus supplied from the pump .1 by a. pipe 9v to an.inlet In on apressure controller "I I. 'The pressure fluid "from the pump 8 is thence received directly in a chamber 12 in a cylinder 13 so as to force to the left, in Figs. 2 and 3, a. movable member or piston lj which is mounted by means of a screw I5 ona plunger I6 between which piston 14 and plunger Hi there is a chevron packing ll, of suitable material. A snap ring stop I8 .for the plunger I6 is located at the left of the cylinder I3, which latter is screw-threaded, and provided with a.

pair of ears l9 and 20, on .the split end vofsaid cylinder 13, secured together with a boltl r screw-threaded attachment to a .spring casing .22, so as to, hold. the screw-threaded end of the cylinder 13 fixedly on thespringcasing 22,. A150 above and opposite. to the ears l9. and '20, there is a lug 22a having a bolt 22b therein for. sup."- porting an end of the accumulator from. .the automobile chassis in .any desired way. The said plunger l6 rests against the face vof a spring retainer plate 23. The spring casing 22 also has a split ring stop 24 for the retainer plate. 2.3, which is .also provided with an intern-a1 .sleeve 25 to act as a guide for a plurality of Belleville spring washers 2B which aremerely dished rings of spring .steel. As shown inv the drawings, the said rings 2.6 .are located .so that the adjacent ringslh-ave their dished portions extending. in opposite directions, said ringsbeingthus carried in an annular-chamber 21 between the casing 22 and the .guide 25 .at intervals along the :chamber 21.. ,Between groups of the spring washers 26 there are ring-shaped blocks 28 to aid in maintaining the alignment .of the springwashers 26. The left end or the chamber .2] is closed by a screw-threaded cap .29., having adjacent to a split end of the cap 29 a pair of earstil and 3! screw-threaded tothe spring casing 22 and clamped together by @boltv '32 so as to hold the cap 29 tightly on the cylinder 22. Also, above and opposite to the cars 30 and 3| there is a lug 32a having a bolt 32,?) therein ,for supporting the end of the accumulator from the automobile chassis in. any desired way, Bolted to the'leftfface of the cap 29 there is a cylindrical switch housing 34, which extends inwardly within the washer 26, the same having a removable screw-plug 35 to permit access to the switch terminals for leads .36 and 31, leading to the switch terminals. .A .cover plate 38 is bolted to the 'switchhousing 34. .In said cover plate '38 there is a sleeve 39 having .a screw-threaded cap 40 to hold in place .a .sleeve 4! which has asorew 42 adapted .to be received in aslot 43 in the sleeve 39,. Said screw 42 also fastens in P 53 9 1 adjustable switch supporting rod 44 provided with a screw-threaded hole 45 to aid in the removal thereof. Slidably mounted on the rod 44 there is a copper plate 46 which operates as a starting switch in the initial starting or setting of the switch apparatus, said plate 46 being normally held in its farthest position to the left by a light spring 41. The other end of said spring 41 abuts against a nut 48 on a sleeve 49 carried on the rod 44, said nut 48 having a washer 59 spacing it from an insulated ring carried on the sleeve 49 and which supports two rod-shaped terminals 52 and 53 connected to said leads 31 and 36 respectively. The copper plate 46 is designed to initially close the circuit manually between the said two rods 52 and 53. The right-hand end of the rods 52 and 53 have screw-threaded thereto conducting plates 54 and 55 which are designed, in the automatic operation of the apparatus, to close the circuit with a copper disk 56 carried on a circuit-breaker sleeve 51 slidable within the sleeve 49 and normally held towards the right in Figs. 2 and 3 by a spring .58 to close the said circuit. It will be noted that the lead 36 is connected to one terminal 59 at one side of the motor 8 and the other lead 31 leads to any suitable source of electrical energy, as, for example, a battery, not shown, which latter is also connected by a lead 69 to a terminal 6| on said motor. The right-hand end of the rod 44 has a stop 62 cooperating with the interior of a shell 63 which is formed on the end of the circuit breaker sleeve 51. This shell 63 is adapted to be moved for the automatic making andbreaking of the pumping circuit by a ring 64 mounted on a cylindrical member 65 carrying within the same a snap action circuit breaking member 66, the inner left portion of which rests against'a spring housing 61, having a spring 68 within the same carried on the outside of a sleeve 69 which overlies a rod 19, having a headed screw H and a washer 1Ia supporting near one end thereof a washer 12 held in place by a snap ring 12a to retain said spring 68 in place.

The said snap action circuit breaking member 66 cooperates with two bell-crank levers 13 and 14 having rollers and 16 thereon, which latter are forced against the face of the cylindrical member 65 by springs 11, resting against extensions18 on arms of the bell-crank levers 13 and 14 which are carried by means of pivots 89. The arms 19 form a part of the switch housing 34. The rod 19, after passing through the snap action member 66, at the right thereof, carries a spring sleeve 8| having therein a spring 82 supported on a sleeve member 83 around the rod 19, which latter has a shoulder 84 supporting an end washer 85 toact as a retainer for said spring 82. The right-hand end of the rod 19 has a screw-thread 86 which is secured within the spring retainer plate 23 by means .of' nuts .81. Notches 88 in the face of the cylindrical mem ber 65 also cooperate with said rollers 15 and 16 so as to retain the pump circuit broken when the pressure-liquid line is broken, that is to say when the piston I4 is at the extreme right-hand end of the cylinder I3. These notches 88 can thus come into action to insure maintaining the pump circuit open when the movable member or piston I4 has moved to its extreme forward position to the right of Fig. 3. However, when the said liquid line is complete and the pump motor has been started manually by moving the copper plate 46 to the right, the pump will be st rted to supply the pressure liquid therfifrom to the cylinder I2 and the piston I4 will move to the left, accordingly, until the snap action circuit breaker 66 breaks the circuit when the desired pressure has been accumulated, so that, thus, liquid is supplied from the cylinder I2 through a port 89 and thence through radial ports 99 in a check valve-sleeve 9| which is normally kept in elevated position by means of a spring 92 carried in a cage 93 screw-threaded into the end of the cylinder I3. The lower end of the cage 93 has a slotted opening 94 to permit removal thereof, the same being covered with a screw-threaded apertured dust cap 95. Above the cage 93 there is a screw sleeve 950, the adjusted position of the sleeve being maintained by a screw 96 cooperating with a series of slots 91 in said sleeve. This adjustment of the sleeve a also permits the tightening of an annular seal 98 located above a washer 99, the seal 98 being supported on the other face thereof by a spacing member I99 which rests against an apertured sleeve I9I within which the valve member 9I slides. A check valve I92 is carried within the sleeve member 9| and is held on its seat by a spring I93. The pressure liquid which is thus supplied by the force from the piston I4 is discharged past the check valve I92 and thence to a discharge port I94 leading to a pipe I95, this discharged pressure being a uniform pressure, preferably of about 500 lbs. per square inch. Another discharge pipe I96 conveys the pressure liquid at this same pressure from the discharge port I94 to any desired part to be moved, of an automobile or any other apparatus.

In the operation of the controlling mechanism, it will be understood that the same is supplied from the supply reservoir I which conveys the li uid by thev pipe 6 to the rotary pump 1, driven by the electric motor 8. The liquid, placed under pressure by the pump 1, is delivered by the pipe 9 to the in et I9 of the contro ler II so that any desired pressure is maintained thereby. Preferably, however, the controller is so constructed as to maintain a pressure, for example, of ap roximately 1000 lbs. per square inch. The liquid, under pressure, received in the inlet I9 from the pump I forces the piston I4 to the left, in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to lace the spring washers 26 under compression. This cont nues until the circuit b eaking member 66 passes bene th the rollers 15 and 16 so as to cause the cylindrical member 65 to move suddenly towardsthe left, thus caus ng the circuit breaker sleeve 51 to break the contact betwee the co er disk 56 and the conducting plates 54 and 55, soas to stop the motor 9 and the pump. 1. This condition of, the circuit, including the wires 36, 31,59, 69 andBI, will continue until sufficient liquid has passed from the controller through the passageway 89, pa t the check valve I92 until the circuit breaking member 66 has been moved suddenlv to the right-hand side of the roller 15 and 16 so as to permit the spring 58 to again complete the motor circuit between the copper disk 5631 1121 the conducting plates 54 and 55,- whereupon the pump 1 will again charge the controller. In this way a constant pressure is maintained in the controller II, irrespective of the extent of withdrawal of the liquid therefrom through the pas sageway 89. In the initial starting of the con-.- troller it will be understood that the copper plate 46 is arranged to be moved manually in ODPOSl-r tion to the spring 41 in order to complete the circuit between the two rods 52 and 53. It will be unde s ood, also, that the liquid which has beensupp'lied under pressure from the pipes 'l 015 and H16, after having been used or released from being under pressure, -may return by the inlet '3 to the reservoir I or may be returned to the ing said pump, circuit connections, including a device for'energizing the electric motor controlled by the position of the member so as to make the circuit when the spring is being released and break the circuit "when the spring is being compressed, and controlling means located on said device rendered operative to insure maintaining the circuit open when the member has been moved to an extreme release position of said spring with said device in circuit making position, said circuit connections "also having a normally open switch adapted to be closed manually to complete the circuit when the spring is in said release position.

2. In a device of the character described, a member movable 'a'ccording'toan increase of fluid pressure, a spring for forcing the member in a direction against said increase 'of pressure, an

inlet for fiuid under pressure to move the member against the force of the spring, a pump connected to said inlet, an electric motor for driving said pump, circuit connections, including a device, for energizing the electric motor controlled by the position of the member so as to make the circuit when the spring is being released and break the circuit when the spring is being compressed, and controlling means located on said device rendered operative to insure maintaining the circuit open when the member has been moved to an extreme release position of said spring with said device in circuit making position, said circuit connections also having a normally open switch adapted to be closed manually to complete the circuit when the spring is in said release position, comprising a spring-retracted conducting disc.

3. In a device of the character described, a member movable according to an increase of fluid pressure, a spring for forcing the member in a direction against said increase of pressure, an inlet for fluid under pressure to move the member against the force of the spring, a pump connected to said inlet, an electric motor for driving said pump, circuit connections, including a device, for energizing the electric motor controlled by the position of the member so as to make the circuit when the spring is being released and break the circuit when the spring is being compressed, and controlling means located on said device rendered operative to insure maintaining the circuit open when the member has been moved to an extreme release position of said spring with said device in circuit making position, said circuit connections also having a normally open switch adapted to be closed manually to complete the circuit when the spring is released, comprising a spring-retracted conducting disc and a removable cover for the disc.

6 l 4. In a device of the character described, a member movable according to an increase of fluid pressure, a spring for forcing the member in a direction against said increase of pressure, an in let for fluid under pressure to move the member against the force of the spring, pump connected to said inlet, an electric motor for driving said pump, circuit connections, including a spring-pressed circuit-breaker rod, for energizing the electric motor controlled by the position of "the member so as to make the circuit when the spring is being released and break the circuit when the spring is being compressed, and controlling means associated with the circuit breaker rod rendered operative to insure maintaining the circuit open when the member has been moved to an extreme release position of said spring with said rod in circuit making position, said circuit connections also having a normally open switch adapted to be closed manually to complete the circuit when the spring is in said extreme release position.

5. In a device of the character described, a member movable according to an increase of fluid pressure, a spring for forcing the member in a direction against said increase of pressure, an inlet for fluid under pressure to move the member against theior'ce of the spring, a pump connected to said inlet, an ele'ctricmot'or for driving said pump, circuit connections, including a springpress'ed circuit-breaker rod, "for energizing the electric motor controlled by the position of the member so as to make the circuit whenthespring is being released and break the circuit when the spring is being compressed, and controlling means associated with the circuit breaker rod rendered operative to insure maintaining the circuit open when the member has been moved to an extreme release position of said spring with said rod in circuit making position, said circuit connections also having a normally open switch adapted to be closed manually to complete the circuit when the spring is in said extreme release position, comprising a spring-retracted conducting disc.

6. In a device of the character described, a member movable according to an increase of fluid pressure, a spring for forcing the member in a direction against said increase of pressure, an inlet for fluid under pressure to move the member against the force of the spring, a pump connected to said inlet, an electric motor for driving said pump, circuit connections, including a spring-pressed circuit-breaker rod, for energizing the electric motor controlled by the position of the member so as to make the circuit when the spring is being released and break the circuit when the spring is being compressed, and controlling means associated with the circuit breaker rod rendered operative to insure maintaining the circuit open when the member has been moved to an extreme release position of said spring with said rod in circuit making position, said circuit connections also having a normally open switch adapted to be closed manually to complete the circuit when the spring is in said extreme release position, comprising springretracted conducting disc and a removable cover for the disc.

7. In a device of the character described, a member movable according to an increase of fluid pressure, a spring for forcing the member in a direction against said increase of pressure, an inlet for fluid under pressure to move the member against the force of the spring, a pump connected to said inlet, an electric motor for driving said pump, circuit connections, including a spring-pressed circuit-breaker rod, for energizing the electric motor controlled by the position of the member so as to make the circuit when the spring is being released and break the circuit when the spring is being compressed, and controlling means, located on said member, rendered operative to insure maintaining the circuit open when the member has been moved to an extreme release position of said spring with said rod in circuit making position, said circuit connections also having a normally open switch adapted to be closed manually to complete the circuit when the spring is in said extreme release position.

8. In a device of the character described, a member movable according to an increase of fluid pressure, a spring for forcing the member in a direction against said increase of pressure, an inlet for fluid under pressure to move the member against the force of the spring, a pump connected to said inlet, an electric motor for driving said pump, circuit connections, including a spring-pressed circuit-breaker rod, for energizing the electric motor controlled by the position of the member so as to make the circuit when the spring is bein released and break the circuit when the spring is being compressed, and controlling means, located on said member, rendered operative to insure maintaining the circuit open when the member has been moved to an extreme release position of said spring with said rod in circuit making position, said circuit connections also having a normally open switch adapted to be closed manually to complete the circuit when the spring is in said extreme release position, comprising a spring-retracted conducting disc.

9. In a device of the character described, a

8v member movable according to an increase of fluid pressure, a spring for forcing the member in a direction against said increase of pressure, an inlet for fluid under pressure to move the member against the force of the spring, a, pump connected to said inlet, an electric motor for driving said pump, circuit connections, including a spring-pressed circuit-breaker rod, for energizing the electric motor controlled by the position of the member so as to make the circuit when the spring is being released and break the circuit when the sprin is being compressed, and controlling means, located on said member, rendered operative to insure maintaining the circuit open when the member has been moved to an extreme release position of said spring with said rod in circuit making position, said circuit connections also having a normally open switch adapted to be closed manually to complete the circuit when the spring is in said extreme release position, comprising a spring-retracted conducting disc and a removable cover for the disc.

EDWARD A. ROCKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,060,588 Dewson May 16, 1913 1,737,335 Ruckstuhl Nov. 26, 1929 1,838,443 Persons Dec. 29, 1931 2,197,772 Rockwell Apr. 23, 1940 2,283,271 Loomis May 19, 1942 2,331,800 Rockwell Sept. 10, 1943 2,356,306 Davis Aug. 22, 1944 2,404,095 Rockwell July' 16, 1946 

